Antimicrobial Medical Garment

ABSTRACT

An antimicrobial woven fabric having interwoven silver threads in manufacturing antimicrobial medical garments including tunics, gowns, coveralls, jackets, scrub tops, scrub pants, lab coats, footwear covers, linens, curtains and dividers wherein the woven fabric is selected from one or more of cotton, wool, silk, hemp, polyester, polypropylene, spandex and nylon, preferably the fabric is a blend of cotton and polyester fibers, with the medical garments providing for a garment closure, such as a zipper, extending approximately from a top front of the garment to a bottom front of the garment for opening said garment; and a plurality of pockets on a front portion of said garment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to fabric and, morespecifically, to an antimicrobial fabric using silver threads woven incombination with a cotton polyester fabric in manufacturingantimicrobial medical garments including tunics, gowns, coveralls,jackets, scrub tops, scrub pants, lab coats, footwear covers, linens,curtains and dividers.

In addition the medical garments may provide a garment closure, such asa zipper extending from the front top to the bottom whereby a user canremove the garment without exposing one's face to the garment's outersurface.

The application illustrates a specific embodiment of the invention,which is not intended to limit the invention in any manner.

2. Description of the Prior Art

There are other fabrics and garments designed for antimicrobial andmedical use. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 4,343,853 issued toMorrison on Aug. 10, 1982.

Another patent was issued to Ohsumi et al. on Apr. 11, 1995 as U.S. Pat.No. 5,405,644. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,789 was issued toHagiwara et al. on May 9, 1995 and still yet another was issued on Oct.12, 1999 to Andrews et al. as U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,223.

Another patent was issued to Orima on Apr. 23, 2002 as U.S. Pat. No.6,374,643. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,320 was issued to Bernhardton Dec. 31, 2002. Another was issued to Rock et al. on Aug. 5, 2003 asU.S. Pat. No. 6,602,811 and still yet another was issued on Jun. 19,2007 to Van Hyning as U.S. Pat. No. 7,232,777.

Another patent application was published to Tsai on May 6, 2010 as U.S.Patent Publication No. 2010/0112884. Japanese Patent No. JP11217737 waspublished to Shiomi on Aug. 10, 1999 and Chinese Patent No. CN2010003092was published to Jiannong on Jan. 9, 2008.

A unique fabric construction having a backing fabric and a face fabric.At least one of the fabrics is made at least in part of yarns formedfrom synthetic fibers which have incorporated thereinto an antimicrobialagent. In some embodiments a tie yarn joins the two faces in platedrelation. Even with minimal contact of the yarns in the two fabrics, theantimicrobial agent migrates from within the treated fibers in the onefabric to the surface thereof and transfers to the yarns in the otherfabric. Thus there is imparted antimicrobial protection to both fabricfaces while maintaining the advantages of naturally occurring, untreatedfibers in one of the fabrics.

A process for producing an antimicrobial fiber having asilver-containing inorganic microbicide characterized by using atreating solution for producing said fiber which contains adiscoloration inhibitor represented by the following general formula:##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen or a lower alkyl group and R.sup.2is hydrogen or an alkali metal.

The invention provides a novel antibacterial compound and a process forproducing it. Futhermore, the invention provides a novel antibacterialpolymer composite comprising a polymer and the antimicrobialcomposition.

The present invention is a composite layered protective fabric having anouter primary layer composed of an abrasive material and an innerprimary layer composed of an inherently cut-resistant materialpositioned below the outer primary layer and when assembled into agarment is positioned proximate to the wearer's skin. In anotherpreferred embodiment of the present invention, a secondary layer isadded to the inner and outer layer framework. The secondary layer iscomposed of a material that provides additional protection againstpotential threats other than cuts, that increases comfort or thatimproves aesthetics. The invented composite fabric is continuouslymanufactured in a one-step process which plates the layers of yarn. Thusformed, the invented composite fabric can be formed into cut-resistantapparel and articles that provide a high level of protection againstsharp objects.

A thread and a fabric are provided which are capable of being dyed tohave a desired color and are formed of a metal-plated yarn excellent inantibacterial and electro-magnetic shielding properties. The thread forachieving this object is a composite thread consisting of a chain stitchyarn formed of a dyeable yarn and a metal-plated yarn inserted as a coreyarn into the chain stitch yarn. A fabric or a weft-knit product formedof the composite yarn is excellent in antibacterial and electro-magneticshielding properties and capable of having a favorable appearance ofdesired color. If the metal-plated yarn is directly arranged in thewarp-knit fabric, the metal-plated yarn is preferably inserted to beinvisible to a human eye from the surface of the warp-knit fabric.

A garment device and its associated method of manufacture are claimed.The garment produced has an internal surface and an external surface,wherein the internal surface contacts a portion of the user's skin. Thegarment is preferably fabricated from a knitted or woven material havingat least one first yarn made from a conventional garment material and asecond yarn that includes an active antimicrobial agent. The knitpattern is designed to cause the conventional garment material to bepredominant on the exterior surface of the garment while the yarnscontaining the antimicrobial agent are predominant on the interiorsurface of the garment. The presence of the yarns with the activeantimicrobial agent on the interior of the garment resists the microbialcontamination of the interior of the garment. As a result, the length oftime the garment can be worn without the adverse effects ofcontamination can be extended.

A composite textile fabric for removing moisture from the skin isprovided. The composite fabric includes an inner, first fabric layercomprising either a polyester, polypropylene, acrylic or nylon yammaterial which is naturally, or has been rendered, hydrophilic and anouter, second fabric layer incorporating either a moisture-absorbentmaterial such as cotton or a synthetic yarn which has been renderedhydrophilic, or a combination thereof. The first and second fabriclayers are formed concurrently by knitting a plaited construction. Thesecond fabric layer, but not the first layer, is blended with syntheticfibers treated to have antimicrobial properties or the second fabriclayer is treated with an anti-microbial paste. An elastomeric yarnmaterial may be added to both layers so that the composite fabric isstretchable.

Durable silver particulate treatments for yarns and textile fabrics areprovided. Such treatments provide, as one example, an antimicrobialfiber and/or textile fabric which remains on the surface and retains itsantimicrobial characteristics after a substantial number of standardlaunderings and dryings. The method of adherence to the target yarnand/or fabric may be performed any number of ways, most preferablythrough the utilization of a binder system. The particular method ofadherence, as well as the treated textile fabrics and individual fibersare also encompassed within this invention.

An antibacterial composition including silver nano particles, aprotective agent and water is provided. The molar ratio of the silvernano particles to the protective agent is 1:0.995-1 and the protectiveagent is selected from a group consisting of MCl, MBr, MI, MS₂O₃ andNH₄OH, in which M represents an element of group IA or HA. Furthermore,two methods of fabricating an antibacterial textile are also provided.

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED

To provide an antibacterial fibrous material capable of giving variousnet-like materials or woven cloths having an antibacterial property bygiving flexibility to a fibrous material and knitting or weaving thematerial.

SOLUTION

This antibacterial fibrous material is made to one body by joining aflat filament made of copper and a flat filament having the same breadthand the same length with the copper filament and made of a syntheticresin are laminated on the surface and the rear face of the flatfilament made of copper and having ultrafine breadth by an adhesive.Therefore, the antibacterial fibrous material has excellentantibacterial property and also mechanical strength, and furthernet-like materials or woven cloths having an antibacterial property andmechanical strength are produced by knitting or weaving the fibrousmaterial.

The utility model relates to an antimicrobial machine woven cloth,relates to a cloth material, in particular to a machine woven shellfabric with antimicrobial efficacy at the surface. The utility model ischaracterized in that: longitude wires and latitude wires are interwoventogether in a sinking and emerging pattern to form a plain weave cloth,a drills, a satin weave or a towel cloth. During the one to five weavingprocedures, at least one piece of latitude wire or a longitude wire ismade of silver coated fiber, a silver coated fiber long thread; or amixed yarn is formed by short silver coated fiber, cotton fiber and/orchemical fiber. Due to the silver ions contained in the silver coatedfiber, which has excellent sterilizing and germ reproduction restrictionefficacy, therefore the utility model provides excellent sterilization,antimicrobial functions, and the silver ions are not easy to loose,providing long time antimicrobial efficacy, is in particular suitable tobe applied as diaper, sanitary towel, shoe insole, ward sheet and shirtcloth etc.

While these fabrics may be suitable for the purposes for which they weredesigned, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the presentinvention, as hereinafter described.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an antimicrobialfabric for use in manufacturing medical garments including tunics,gowns, coveralls, jackets, scrub tops, scrub pants, lab coats, footwearcovers, linens, curtains and dividers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an antimicrobialfabric comprising in combination a non-synthetic yarn, a synthetic yarnand silver thread.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide anantimicrobial fabric wherein said non-synthetic yarn is cotton.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide anantimicrobial fabric wherein said synthetic yarn is a polymericcompound, preferably polyester.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide anantimicrobial fabric wherein said silver thread is interlaced within thecotton polyester fabric.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an antimicrobialfabric wherein said silver thread is not bonded to the cotton polyesteryarns.

A yet further object of the present invention is to provide anantimicrobial medical garment incorporating one or more fasteners asclosure of said garment after donning said garment.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide anantimicrobial medical garment wherein said fasteners is selected fromthe group of buttons, snaps, hook and eye, Velcro® (hook and loop typefasteners) and zipper.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an antimicrobialmedical garment having a fastener extending the length of the garment.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide anantimicrobial medical garment wherein said fastener is a zipper.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide antimicrobialmedical garments having one or more pockets.

Additional objects of the present invention will appear as thedescription proceeds.

The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art byproviding an antimicrobial fabric using silver threads woven into acotton polyester blend fabric in manufacturing antimicrobial medicalgarments including tunics, gowns, coveralls, jackets, scrub tops, scrubpants, lab coats, footwear covers, linens, curtains and dividers.

Also provided are medical garments incorporating fasteners, such as azipper, extending from the front top to the bottom whereby a user canremove the garment without exposing one's face to the garment's outersurface.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from thedescription to follow. In the description reference is made to theaccompanying drawing figures, which form a part hereof, and in which isshown by way of illustration specific embodiments by which the inventionmay be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficientdetail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, andit is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and thatstructural changes may be made without departing from the scope of theinvention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference charactersdesignate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in alimiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best definedby the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now bedescribed, by way of example, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of the prior art of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is another illustrative view of the prior art of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the medical garment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the closed medical garment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the medical garment of the present inventionin use.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the closed medical garment of the presentinvention in use.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the antimicrobial fabric of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is an illustrative view of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS

Turning now descriptively to the drawing figures, in which similarreference characters denote similar elements throughout the severalviews, the figures illustrate the Antimicrobial Medial Garment of thepresent invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, thefollowing numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.

-   10 user-   12 prior art medical garment-   14 head of 10-   16 face on 14-   18 head hole of 12-   20 outer front surface of 12-   22 Antimicrobial Medical Garment of the present invention-   24 antimicrobial fabric-   26 zipper-   28 top front portion of 22-   30 bottom front portion of 22-   32 pockets on 22-   34 front portion of 22-   36 fabric-   38 silver threads-   40 medical scrub-   42 cloth

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following discussion describes in detail one or more embodiments ofthe invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, aslimiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitionersskilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well.For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader isdirected to appended claims.

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of the prior art 12 of the presentinvention. Shown is a user 10 wearing a standard medical garment 12, forexample, a medical scrub, of unitary construction having no frontalopening and which can be removed only by pulling the garment over theuser's 10 head 14 and face 16 through the garment's 12 head hole 18 thatcan expose the user 10 to contamination of their skin surfaces and airpassages by bacteria and viruses resident on the garment 12.

FIG. 2 is another illustrative view of the prior art 12 of the presentinvention. Shown is a user 10 attempting the awkward and potentiallycontaminative maneuver of removing a standard medical garment 12, forexample, a medical scrub, by pulling the garment 12 over the user's 10head 14, thus exposing the user's face 16 to contamination of their skinsurfaces and air passages by bacteria and viruses resident on thegarment 12 as they draw the garment's 12 outer front surface 20, theportion of the garment most likely to be contaminated, past their face16 as they pull their head 14 through the garment's 12 head hole 18.

FIG. 3 is a front view of one illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention depicting an antimicrobial medical garment 22 of the presentinvention in a partially closed orientation. The antimicrobial medicalgarment 22 is formed of an antimicrobial fabric 24, for example, as amedical scrub, and includes a fastener for opening and closing thegarment whereby a user can remove the garment 22 without exposing one'sface to the garment's outer surface. The fastener can be, for example, azipper, hook and eye fasteners, hook and loop type fasteners (Velcro®),snaps, buttons and the like. Preferably, the fastener is a zipper 26extending from the top front 28 of the garment 22 to the bottom front 30of the garment 22. Optionally, the garment 22 further includes aplurality of pockets 32, preferably on the front portion 34 of thegarment 22.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the antimicrobial medical garment 22 of thepresent invention in a closed orientation. The antimicrobial medicalgarment 22 is formed of an antimicrobial fabric 24, for example, as amedical scrub, and includes a fastener for opening and closing thegarment whereby a user can remove the garment 22 without exposing one'sface to the garment's outer surface. The fastener can be, for example, azipper, hook and loop type fasteners, snaps, buttons and the like.Preferably, the fastener is a zipper 26 extending from the top front 28of the garment 22 to the bottom front 30 of the garment 22. Optionally,the garment 22 further includes a plurality of pockets 32, preferably onthe front portion 34 of the garment 22.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the medical garment of the present inventionin use. Illustrated is a user 10 donning the present invention'santimicrobial medical garment 22. The antimicrobial medical garment 22is formed of an antimicrobial fabric 24, for example, as a medicalscrub, and includes a fastener for opening and closing the garmentwhereby a user can remove the garment 22 without exposing one's face 16to the garment's outer surface. The fastener can be, for example, azipper, hook and loop type fasteners, snaps, buttons and the like.Preferably, the fastener is a zipper 26 extending from the top front 28of the garment 22 to the bottom front 30 of the garment 22. Optionally,the garment 22 further includes a plurality of pockets 32, preferably onthe front portion 34 of the garment 22.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the closed medical garment of the presentinvention in use. The present invention provides an antimicrobialmedical garment 22. The antimicrobial medical garment 22 is formed of anantimicrobial fabric 24, for example, as a medical scrub, and includes afastener for opening and closing the garment whereby a user 10 canremove the garment 22 without exposing one's face 16 to the garment'souter surface. The fastener can be, for example, a zipper, hook and looptype fasteners, snaps, buttons and the like. Preferably, the fastener isa zipper 26 extending from the top front 28 of the garment 22 to thebottom front 30 of the garment 22. Optionally, the garment 22 furtherincludes a plurality of pockets 32, preferably on the front portion 34of the garment 22.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the antimicrobial fabric 24 of the presentinvention. Shown is the present invention comprising a fabric 36 havinga plurality of silver threads 38 incorporated therein. The fabric cangenerally comprise any fabric suitable for the manufacture ofantimicrobial medical garments including tunics, gowns, coveralls,jackets, scrub tops, scrub pants, lab coats, footwear covers, linens,curtains and dividers. The fabric may include woven and non-wovenfabrics and cloths, for example natural fiber fabrics such as cotton,wool, silk, hemp and the like and synthetic materials such as polyester,polypropylene, nylon and the like, and combinations thereof. A preferredfabric is a cotton/polyester blend fabric. The incorporation of silverthreads 38 provides the antimicrobial characteristic to theantimicrobial fabric 24.

FIG. 8 is an illustrative view of the present invention 22. Shown is thepresent invention being a medical scrub 40 formed of an antimicrobialfabric 24, constructed of silver thread 38 impregnated cloth 42 utilizedin order to limit biological contamination from the scrub 40. Themedical scrub 40 includes a fastener for opening and closing the scrub40 whereby a user can remove the scrub 40 without exposing one's face tothe scrub's outer surface. The fastener can be, for example, a zipper,hook and loop type fasteners, snaps, buttons and the like. Preferably,the fastener is a zipper 26 extending from the top front 28 of the scrub40 to the bottom front 30 of the scrub. Optionally, the scrub 40 furtherincludes a plurality of pockets 32, preferably on the front portion 34of the scrub 40. The cloth 42 has incorporated therein a plurality ofsilver threads 38. The incorporation of silver threads 38 provides theantimicrobial characteristic to the antimicrobial fabric 24.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together may also find a useful application in other types ofmethods differing from the type described above.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown anddescribed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intendedto be limited to the details above, since it will be understood thatvarious omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the formsand details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be madeby those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spiritof the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

1. An antimicrobial fabric comprising a material selected from wovenfabrics and non-woven fabrics having a plurality of silver threadsincorporated therethrough.
 2. The antimicrobial fabric according toclaim 1, wherein said antimicrobial fabric is formed as a woven fabrichaving silver threads interwoven therewith.
 3. The antimicrobial fabricaccording to claim 2, wherein said woven fabric is selected from naturalfibers, synthetic fibers, and blends of natural and synthetic fibers. 4.The antimicrobial fabric according to claim 3, wherein said woven fabricis selected from one or more of cotton, wool, silk, hemp, polyester,polypropylene and nylon.
 5. The antimicrobial fabric according to claim3, wherein said woven fabric is a blend of one or more natural fibersand one or more synthetic fibers.
 6. The antimicrobial fabric accordingto claim 5, wherein said one or more natural fibers is selected from oneor more of cotton, wool, silk and hemp, and said one or more syntheticfibers is a polymeric compound selected from one or more of polyester,polypropylene, spandex and nylon.
 7. The antimicrobial fabric accordingto claim 6, wherein said woven fabric is a blend of cotton and polyesterfibers.
 8. The antimicrobial fabric according to claim 7, wherein saidsilver threads are unbonded to said cotton and polyester fibers.
 9. Anantimicrobial medical garment comprising an antimicrobial fabric formedof an antimicrobial material selected from woven fabrics and non-wovenfabrics having a plurality of silver threads incorporated therethrough.10. The antimicrobial medical garment according to claim 9, wherein saidwoven fabric is a blend of one or more natural fibers and one or moresynthetic fibers.
 11. The antimicrobial medical garment according toclaim 10, wherein said one or more natural fibers is selected from oneor more of cotton, wool, silk and hemp, and said one or more syntheticfibers is a polymeric compound selected from one or more of polyester,polypropylene, spandex and nylon.
 12. The antimicrobial medical garmentaccording to claim 11, wherein said woven fabric is a blend of cottonand polyester fibers.
 13. The antimicrobial medical garment according toclaim 12, wherein said silver threads are unbonded to said cotton andpolyester fibers.
 14. The antimicrobial medical garment according toclaim 13 selected from tunics, gowns, coveralls, jackets, scrub tops,scrub pants, lab coats, footwear covers, linens, curtains and dividers.15. The antimicrobial medical garment according to claim 13, furthercomprising a fastener for opening said garment, said fastener selectedfrom buttons, snaps, hook and eye fasteners, hook and loop fasteners andzippers.
 16. The antimicrobial medical garment according to claim 15,wherein said fastener extends the length of the garment.
 17. Theantimicrobial medical garment according to claim 15, wherein saidfastener is a zipper.
 18. The antimicrobial medical garment according toclaim 17, wherein said zipper extends approximately from a top front ofthe garment to a bottom front of the garment.
 19. The antimicrobialmedical garment according to claim 15, wherein said garment is a medicalscrub.
 20. The antimicrobial medical garment according to claim 14,further comprising a plurality of pockets.